Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero,
The man accused of turning a Venezuelan prison gang into an international criminal nightmare is reportedly out of the picture — and President Donald Trump is making sure everyone knows it.
Trump announced Friday that Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as “Niño Guerrero,” was killed in what he described as a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” carried out by U.S. Southern Command in coordination with Venezuelan authorities. Multiple news outlets, including Reuters and the Associated Press, reported that U.S. officials confirmed the operation targeted the longtime leader of Tren de Aragua, the violent gang that has become synonymous with illegal migration-related crime waves across the Western Hemisphere.
For years, Guerrero sat atop one of Latin America’s most feared criminal organizations. What began as a prison gang inside Venezuela’s notorious Tocorón prison allegedly evolved into a sprawling transnational enterprise tied to drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and other violent crimes stretching from South America to the United States. U.S. authorities had previously placed a $5 million bounty on information leading to his arrest or conviction.
Trump used the announcement to draw a sharp contrast with the Biden era, arguing that weak border enforcement allowed criminal organizations to expand their footprint inside the United States.
“Before I returned to office, Joe Biden opened our Southern Border to millions of Illegal Criminals, and allowed this foreign army to rape, maim, and murder American Citizens with total impunity,” Trump wrote.
“During my Campaign, I pledged to expel these monsters from our Country, and bring Justice to the families of those they slaughtered, including the precious 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, 22-year-old Laken Reilly, and countless other beautiful souls.”
The president said the strike delivered long-overdue justice for victims and their families.
“With this action, the United States Military has brought retribution for them, their families, and their loved ones.”
Trump also highlighted his administration’s designation of Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and touted broader efforts targeting cartels and transnational gangs.
“Early in my Administration, I delivered on my promise to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, deport thousands of evil criminals, and wage war against the Cartels, who have long been waging war against our Citizens, while weak leaders left America helpless and defensive.”
The president said the operation was coordinated with Venezuelan officials and warned that gang leaders should not expect refuge anywhere. “This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well.
“As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drugs lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong.”
Video released alongside Trump’s announcement appeared to show a precision strike obliterating a remote structure allegedly connected to Guerrero’s operations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later said the strike had taken place earlier in the week. Venezuelan officials also acknowledged a joint operation targeting organized criminal elements.
The reported death of Guerrero marks a stunning fall for a man who once operated with near-mythical status inside Venezuela’s underworld. Authorities say he spent years inside Tocorón prison, where gang leaders allegedly enjoyed extraordinary influence, extorted inmates, bribed guards and expanded criminal networks far beyond prison walls. Investigators have long accused Tren de Aragua of exploiting migration routes, controlling smuggling corridors and spreading violence across multiple countries.
BREAKING: The U.S. military has killed the alleged leader of Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragua, President Trump announced Friday.
The president said on Truth Social that U.S. Southern Command carried out a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” to “successfully execute” Hector… pic.twitter.com/LeliPK2RzM
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2026
